Steen not skating, won't join Blues on trip; Edmundson will
travel, not play; Blues-Blackhawks all-access to debut Dec. 16
BOSTON -- The Blues practiced Monday at St. Louis Outlet Mall's Ice Zone before a quick two-game trip east to face the Boton Bruins and Washington Capitals, but will apparently do so without forward Alexander Steen.
Steen, who's missed two games with an upper-body injury sustained last Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres, did not skate for a third straight day on Monday.
Coach Ken Hitchcock was hopeful the past three skates that Steen would be available; he's still listed as day-to-day and the door is left open for him to join the Blues for their game Wednesday.
He's better and better, but we opted not to skate him today," Hitchcock said. "We're not going to take him on the road trip, but if he feels better, then he can join us, but right now, we're going to start and play in Boston without him and then we'll see."
Steen, who has two goals and eight assists in 17 games, last skated during the morning skate on Thursday.
"I'm not worried," Hitchcock said. "If it was week-to-week, we'd let you know, but it's day-to-day. 'Eddy's been the guy that's been week-to-week. We're not concerned about it. I don't know if we've got more time than we think, but we're not going to do it unless it's 100 percent and then he can stay in for good."
The Blues ran the same line combinations as the one that played Saturday in a 3-1 win against Nashville, with Ty Rattie and Nail Yakupov rotating in on the third-line right wing meaning one of them will play against the Bruins.
* Edmundson practicing, not ready yet -- Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson joined the practice group for a second day after participating in the morning skate Saturday but will not play in either game on the road.
Edmundson, who sustained an upper-body injury Nov. 6 in the first period against the Colorado Avalanche, will join the team but won't play.
"He participated in practice but not in the contact part of things, so he's not ready," Hitchcock said. "We're going to continue to work with him, but he's definitely not ready to play in either one of these games."
* Road to NHL Outdoor Classics to debut Dec. 16 -- Premium TV network EPIX and the NHL announced on Monday that EPIX Presents Road To the NHL Outdoor Classics will make its U.S. Television Premiere on Friday, Dec. 16 at 9 pm local time on EPIX with four weekly episodes.
The Blues and Chicago Blackhawks meet in the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on January 2, in St. Louis.
In addition to its airing on EPIX, U.S. hockey fans will be able to stream each episode of EPIX Presents Road To the NHL Outdoor Classics as a simulcast on EPIX.com, NHL.com and the websites for the four teams participating in the 2017 Scotiabank NHL Centennial Classic (Detroit Red Wings at Toronto Maple Leafs) and the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic.
The Road To the NHL Outdoor Classics will provide viewers with a sports tech-driven, intimate look at these athletes in their professional and personal settings, capturing all the action, drama, heartaches and triumphs as they unfold.
"The Road To series is extremely popular with our viewers and NHL fans," Mark S. Greenberg, EPIX President and CEO, said in a press release. "I'm excited to have Ross Greenburg back and using his immense talents to give audiences a rare and personal look at how the athletes and coaches prepare for these special games - on and off the ice - while balancing the demands of home and life on the road."
"Just as the NHL Winter Classic has become a New Year's tradition and annual high point of our season, the Road To series has become appointment viewing for sports fans each December," Steve Mayer, NHL Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, said in a press release. "This year, the series takes it to another level, chronicling four teams instead of two as they prepare for and compete in both the NHL Winter Classic and the NHL Centennial Classic. We are looking forward to another exciting edition of the series with producer Ross Greenburg and his team, our partner EPIX and, most important, our clubs and the best athletes in all of pro sports, who provide amazing access."
EPIX PRESENTS ROAD TO THE NHL OUTDOOR CLASSICS
Premiere - Friday, Dec. 16 at 9 pm CT
Episode 2 - Friday, Dec. 23 at 9 pm CT (re-air on Dec. 24 at 9 pm CT)
Episode 3 - Friday, Dec. 30 at 9 pm CT
Episode 4 - Friday, January 6 at 9 pm CT
Sports fans can stream Episode No. 1 as a simulcast on the following digital platforms:
* Online at NHL.com and at EPIX.com (http://www.epix.com/nhl)
* Via team sites - ChicagoBlackhawks.com, DetroitRedWings.com, StLouisBlues.com, TorontoMapleLeafs.com
* Via the official EPIX App on Android, iOS, XBOX 360, PS3, PS4, Roku and Windows 8.
In addition, the premiere episode will be available on demand at NHL.com.
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